Hugh Jackman as Neil Diamond in a prestige biopic written and directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan) sounds like a sure fire hit. Song Sung Blue isn’t exactly that, but it is the next best thing – Jackman as a Neil Diamond cover act.
Song Sung Blue is based on a true story previously chronicled in the 2008 documentary of the same name from director Greg Kohs. Jackman is Mike Sardina, a Vietnam veteran and recovering alcoholic, who fixes cars during the day while singing and playing guitar at night. He’s even developed a persona, “Lightning,” with a big silver bolt stitched onto the back of his denim vest. When we first meet Mike, he’s refusing to sing “Tiny Bubbles” as Don Ho at a county fair show featuring a gaggle of other impersonators, including Mark Shurilla (Michael Imperioli) who plays Buddy Holly. It’s here that he meets Claire Stingl (Kate Hudson), a Patsy Cline impersonator. The pair of crooners find they have a lot in common. Both are divorced and share a love for Neil Diamond. After all, according to Mike, Neil Diamond is more than just “Sweet Caroline.”
Dubbing themselves “Lightning and Thunder,” Mike and Claire put together a band with Mark and several other friends to create a full experience rather than a simple impression. Their first gig is a disaster of Blues Brothers proportions when their new manager Tom D’Amato (Jim Belushi) mistakenly books them at a biker bar that prefers Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top. Thankfully, they keep at it and become a sensation in native Milwaukee. The nadir of their popularity comes when they’re booked as the opening act for Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder himself joining them on stage for “Forever in Blue Jeans.” And, yes, this actually happened.
Tragedy strikes in 1999 when Claire is struck by a drunk driver in her own front yard. Her left leg from the knee down is amputated causing her to fall into depression and an overreliance on pain pills. Without Claire at his side, Mike loses his passion for performing and takes a side gig hosting karaoke at a Thai restaurant.. If you’ve seen any musical biopic, you’ll know that a triumphant comeback almost always follows a tragic fall.
Hugh Jackman (who learned to play the guitar for this role) and Kate Hudson provide all the charm and charisma to carry the film, along with the vocal abilities for the musical performances. While Song Sung Blue was largely ignored during awards season, Hudson scored numerous nominations for lead actress including the Oscars and the Golden Globes. Her winsome personality makes it easy to see how Mike could fall in love so quickly, but Hudson is more than capable of conveying the deep sadness of Claire after the accident. It’s a stark contrast from her hilarious turn as the oblivious fashion designer in Glass Onion. Though he’s best known as Wolverine, Jackman isn’t afraid to make himself look a bit foolish, especially when he’s pacing around in tightie whities after clearly skipping leg day.
The heart of the movie doesn’t just come from Mike and Claire’s relationship, but with Mike and his burgeoning connection with Claire’s older daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson). Rachel is obviously apprehensive about Mike, who eventually grows into a loving father.
The other star of the picture is the oft-mentioned, but never seen Neil Diamond whose presence is felt through his music. The bond between Mike and Claire begins with “Cherry, Cherry” as an impromptu duet in the latter’s living room. They also roll out other familiar hits like “Crunchy Granota Suite” and “Holly Holy.”
Video/Audio: 9
The video is presented in 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The picture is just about perfect with rich colors and natural skin tones. The wrinkles on Jackman’s face and the rhinestones that bedazzle his denim clothes are just some of the fine details that shine through.
The audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD 7.1. The dialogue is crisp and clear. The sound truly stands out during the musical performances as the audio design makes it feel like you’re right in the middle of the club.
Extras: 4
One Plus One Equals Three (5:21) is a short featurette about the story and the real-life events that inspired the movie.
Lightning in a Bottle (9:54) focuses on the cast, especially Ella Anderson and King Princess, the young actors playing the daughters of Mike and Claire, respectively.
Eye for Style (3:25) looks at the costume and make-up work.
Rounding out the disc are extended performances for the songs “Crunchy Granola Suite” and “Sweet Caroline.” You’ll also get an audio commentary track with Craig Brewer.
Film Value: 7
Song Sung Blue may stick to the formula, but Craig Brewer pulls off all the usual tropes well. This is a feel good story about how music and nostalgia can connect people regardless of their differences.
